Reclaiming Summer and Moving On

It's been a full summer. Too full. I sat down on August 1st, took one look at my calendar ... and cried. Lessons and social functions and obligations and various doctor appointments and trips filled each square. These were all good things, but none of them allowed for restful days. So I made some phone calls and cancelled what I could in order to reclaim what was left of summer. It was a much needed choice and we've all enjoyed having a bit more leisure to read, play, work, garden, and just BE.

I've also made a difficult decision to move on from regular posting at this blog. In a variety of ways, I've come to realize that it unfortunately can sometimes serve as more of a divisive tool than one of encouragement. This is very sad to me, but beyond my control. This blog serves as a journal of blessings in my life. I've found it is so much healthier and brings so much more joy to LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of life. Of course, this doesn't mean that I am perfect. Those who know me well, know THAT well : )

A dear friend recently commented, "You know, if I don't bless someone with who I really am, than I just choose to not be around that person because it only serves to damage them without my ever intending to." And so:

If you are truly blessed by what you see and hear and read through me ...

If you don't struggle with comparisons or feeling "under par" by visiting my blog ...

If you are encouraged and challenged by what you find at Homeschooling in the Garden of Life,

And don't actively seek out ways to find untruth in my words or actions or lifestyle choices --

Please contact me either by leaving a comment or contacting me personally and I will share with you my new anonymous blog site (which, by the way, is still under construction so please be patient). But please -- only do so if you can honestly answer yes to the above questions. Life is too short for all of us and reading something that doesn't bring edification and joy to your life is not worth reading at all.

Thanks for understanding. Wishing you all joyful and tender moments as you homeschool in the garden of life.

-- Kristi

Garden Update -- Mid August

I'm joyfully at home ... weeding and watering and harvesting and canning and counting my blessings one blessed day at a time.

County Fair Winners!

Imagine our delight when we arrived at the County Fair last night to see how aptly rewarded were the efforts of Isabelle and Isaac for their year-long projects! Isabelle received a first place ribbon for her "horse blanket" quilt. She was delighted and could hardly wait to have her Nana see (Nana is a professional quilter with lots of fair ribbons to her name!).

Isaac spent many, many hours putting together his working K'Nex roller coaster and earned a champion ribbon for his efforts!! This was especially exciting because he REALLY wanted a big ribbon for this project. He (and we!) were all smiles as we congratulated him on his success. In addition, he also won a first place for an original Lego USA flag he designed and built, and a fourth place ribbon for an original K'Nex car. Congratulations to my talented kids!! : )

Finally Forty

It's been a beautiful day where those whom I love and who love me right back, have celebrated my life and truly made me feel special. Thank you. I haven't felt too contemplative about this whole mid-life thing. I've been so blessed ... I just feel incredibly, overwhelmingly ... grateful.

Grateful for life. Grateful for grace and mercy extended to me daily by my Savior. Grateful for forgiveness. Grateful for someone who loves me each and every day in spite of my wrinkles, my flaws of character, my very daily struggle with being human. I'm grateful for the incredible gift of children and the awesome opportunity to spend just about every waking minute walking alongside them in learning and loving and laughing and growing.

In forty years I've learned:

- the older I get, the less I know.

- that over and over God removes people from our lives in order to draw us closer to Himself.

- that good health is a gift beyond measure ... and should never be taken for granted.

- that life is fragile, easily taken in the swiftest of moments. Enjoy it. Revel in it. Cherish each moment as a gift from God.

- that being "busy at home" (Titus 2:3-5) is the best kind of busy.

- that pleasing my husband through my daily choices brings me the greatest joy in life.

- that "setting my mind on things above" (Col. 3:2) and "giving thanks in all circumstances" (1Thess. 5:16-18) is truly the key to all happiness while here on this earth.

- that I can choose to be right or I can choose to be happy. I used to choose the first one. I'm learning to choose the second.

- that the Bible is a road map, a handbook, a guide to every aspect of life. It is my greatest consoler and surest friend.

- that relationships that stand the test of time (and sin) are more precious than pure gold and should be handled with great loving care.

- that children are God's gift given specifically to keep us on our knees before Him.

I am blessed beyond measure. No, my life isn't perfect. Sometimes I'm grumpy. Often I just don't want to cook : ) Frequently I struggle with being more of a "Martha" than a "Mary". People sometimes dislike me just because of the way I live my life. I can err on the side of being stern rather than gentle and kind. My need for order can be debilitating at times. I am human. Just a regular person with regular struggles. But ... I am also forgiven and hold fast to the promise of my salvation through Jesus Christ my Lord (1 John 1:9). He is merciful, keeps no record of wrongs, and loves at all times (1 Cor. 13). This was and is and will always be the greatest gift I could possibly receive.

I'm finally forty. I wouldn't go back. I'm happy to be right here, right now. There's so much to look forward to ........

Summer Blooms

Homemade Yogurt

I'm enjoying trying many of the homemade recipes I've been reading about in so many of my agrarian lifestyle books. One of them is homemade yogurt. To begin, you'll need 1 quart of whole milk. Raw dairy milk is best; however, I do not have a source for this so I buy organic whole milk. In addition, you'll need at least 3 tablespoons of organic whole milk plain yogurt. "Nancy's" brand is excellent. Finally, you'll need 1/3-1/2 cup of dry milk as well as a sauce pan and thermometer.

Clean, sterilized canning jars work well. 1 recipe will fill 4 1/2 pint jars. Make sure they are sterilized or else any remaining bacteria can cause your yogurt culture to not "take".

Pour your milk into your sauce pan and turn it on medium heat. Stir frequently until the milk forms bubbles along the side of the pan (about 120 degrees). Turn the heat off and add your dry milk. Allow the milk to cool to 110 degrees before adding 3 tablespoons of your plain yogurt. It may sound like a lot of work, but this entire process takes about 10 minutes total.

Pour into your canning jars and tighten lids. Place jars into a pre-warmed crockpot (turn it on low for about 20 minutes prior to working with your milk mixture). Turn OFF the crockpot, put on lid, and wrap with a towel to keep it warm. Allow your yogurt to sit in the crockpot overnight.

In the morning, remove jars and place in the fridge. This is plain yogurt and thus is tart to the taste. If you prefer sweetened yogurt, you can either add sweetener (1/3 cup of honey, sugar, maple syrup, or other sweetener) and some vanilla to the milk mixture when you add the dry milk, or you can sweeten it yourself with homemade preserves and jams after it has cooled.

The resulting yogurt is delicious, homemade, better for you, has no preservatives or artificial colorings, and is less expensive in the long run. Once you've made your first batch, you now have your own "starter". Keep 3 tblsp. of your homemade plain yogurt to use for your next batch. Delicious and simple!

Creative Earning - 7 Year Old Style

Today Isabelle announced that she would be opening her own hair dressing salon. All of us were busy with Saturday chores well after she had completed hers, therefore no one paid much attention until the sticky notes announced the way to her room (her brother later revised the sign using his computer knowledge).

Here we were met by a very gracious and anxious-to-please "hair comber" ready and waiting with combs, spray bottle, and pitcher with water (to "keep you comfortable"). Her brothers jumped on the bandwagon and each took turns willingly having their hair sprayed and combed.

The cost? A mere $.01. Of course, each boy chipped in a hefty tip and Isabelle happily earned a small living today (at least enough to buy a pack of gum anyway!).

Turkey Pen Completion

Well, Joe and the kids worked for over a week in the hot evenings to fence, gate, and provide shelter for our turkeys. They were quickly outgrowing their pen in the barn and so the clock was ticking to get this project completed.

It turned out great and our little gobblers are happy to have the space to roam. Josiah learned some valuable construction and roofing experience on this little shelter, while Isabelle and Isaac earned the title of "painters of the year" after spending a scorching day painting it. The kids painted themselves more than the actual shelter. I think I shall be combing paint out of Isabelle's hair for weeks to come! : ) It was worth the experience and something that they can all feel proud of.

Let the Season Begin

A neighbor graciously allows us to pick fresh ripe apricots to our heart's content each July. Her trees are very old and produce amazingly regardless of spring weather. This year Isabelle and I picked once on our own while the boys were away, and then picked again upon their return. They are able to climb to higher branches and get some of the best fruit.

I usually make preserves -- simply sugar and fruit boiled down with the impurities and froth ladled off the top. This year's apricots were very sweet. Pure delight can be found in a ripe apricot!

I had to dust off my canning pot for another season of canning. I usually can all of our own spaghetti sauce for the year, as well as other fruits and vegetables. We have very little fruit on our own young trees this year due to a late May wind storm that froze most of our apples and apricots.

Canning can be a long process unless you get into a quick routine of all that must be done: jars sterilized, pots out for cooking, ingredients ready, spoons/ladles/paper towels on hand, and canning pot boiling.

The final result is a pantry full of color and homemade goodness. I have been making my own yogurt lately. The jams and preserves make a perfect fruity compliment to it! Happy canning everyone.

Reading Recommendation

I just read Sally Clarkson's most recent blog post entitled "A 'Go To' Friend". Wow. This is inspiration at its best. The person she describes has the character I so admire in a friend, AND is the person I so desire to be. I am so blessed to have a small handful of "go to" friends and pray that I too, am one to them. Read it when you get a moment. If you'll scroll down my blog's sidebar to the section entitled "Blogs I Visit" -- Sally's is the first one listed entitle 'I Take Joy'.

Blessings as you grow and learn.

Alaskan Fishing Trip

My boys and Joe just returned home from a week-long trip fishing in the wilds of Alaska. They took Grandpa with them (because he's the only one who really knows how to fish!). Each morning they were up early, seeking to catch their limit.

In addition to fishing, they also did some hiking and exploring, including going inside "El Capitan" -- a famous cave known in this area of Alaska.

They stayed a "153 Fishcamp" (www.153fishcamp.com) -- a rustic Christian camp which houses a group of fishermen (and women if they are so inclined!) for a weeklong stay. The housing was rough at best, but it did keep the rain off. The camp director and his family provide all meals, guidance fishing, a halibut fishing trip or two, great company, and evening devotions. Because of this, the boys were able to meet several new dads and sons. Afternoon pastimes often included sword fighting with sticks. "Boys" of all ages participated : )

Josiah went halibut fishing with a small group. Although he didn't personally pull one in, it was a great experience! We will have fish to last well through the winter. Praise God for a stocked freezer!!

Isaac enjoyed fishing with Grandpa and here is pictured with one of his salmon catches.

Isaac was pretty nervous about being away from home for a week so I had prewritten a letter to him each day which he read before going to bed. In a couple of them I included pictures of his sister and I, as well as some extra spending money. It turned out -- he was just fine. He was having too much fun to think of me back home!!

Joe and Grandpa had a deal -- Grandpa did the "hacking" and Joe did the "packing" in the outdoor filet and packing station. I bet it smelled pretty doggone fishy around there!

Joe and the boys said that there were a dozen or so Bald Eagles soaring over their fish camp area. Isaac told me that they would swoop so low that you didn't hear them until they were very close. Aren't they beautiful?

Josiah had the privilege of reeling in several fish of all sizes. He was Grandpa's helper on many occasions. I think they had a lot of fun together doing what Grandpa loves to do more than just about anything.

Here are my boys (men) on the ferry with the Alaskan coastline behind them. They had a wonderful time and made fantastic memories for years to come. We're glad they're home.

Daisies and Lavendar

All of my daisies are in bloom. Such happy flowers!! I have them tucked everywhere and wish they would bloom nonstop until October. Undoubtedly my favorite summer flower, they look absolutely striking next to the masses of lavender we have planted throughout our gardens.

Lavender is the primary flavor of our honey. They grow prolifically in the dry heat, are fairly drought tolerant, and are just striking through the summer and even through the winter.

Here is one of my favorite "pockets of sunshine". It surprises me with its bold color and brings a smile to my heart each and every day. Praise God for flowers!! He is truly the Master Gardener.

Mountain Retreat

We just returned home from a glorious, relatively unplanned trip (we're really good at this!) to our favorite camping spot in the mountains. This was a wonderful reprieve for me after a very emotionally difficult week. I enjoyed the luxury of a good long cry on the way up the mountain and was able to breathe a sigh of acceptance and relief by the time we had leveled our R.V., made a make-shift lunch, and relished in the absolute solitude of being "just us". THIS is a gift from God.
With our wet spring now making way for the heat of summer, our mountain hideaway was lush and practically fuzzy with green. Butterflies fluttered in front of us at every step -- darting from daisy to daisy and making hasty retreats in and out of the grasses intermingled with golden buttercups. I counted 16 varieties of wildflowers currently in bloom. It was God's garden and beyond anything I could ever recreate.
Just the smell of this place makes me sleepy! Evergreens tower over the grassy meadows, wildflowers abuzz with the sounds of insects, and the flapping leaves of the mountain Aspens below. Our time is spent lazing, reading, napping, eating (always!), talking, playing games ("Apples to Apples" and "Uno" are the favorites), sleeping in, taking long walks, and, above all else, playing in the creek.
This year, Joe and the boys added to the existing dam, allowing for the kids to somewhat "swim" in the freezing creek water. I park my chair along the edge under the shade of overhanging bushes and trees where I watch, intervene when needed, listen, laugh, encourage and rest. It's utterly delightful. I'm always amazed at how the gift of silence allows for the healing of so many wounds.
On this trip, I've been reading Elisabeth Elliott's "The Shaping of a Christian Family". She is one of my favorite authors and serves as a mentor in my life and heart. What beautiful words and memories she has of parents who were utterly devoted to living out their faith in the company of their children. Many of her stories reminded me of what I remember of my own dear Grandparents.
Through this reading and through the quiet prayers of my heart during this time, I am reminded once again to live out obedience as I "make it my ambition to lead a quiet life, minding my own business and working with my hands ... so that my daily life may win the respect of outsiders ..." (I Thess. 4:11-12). I've always loved this verse. It has new meaning for me now. So much of the hurt I've endured in my life would not have occurred had I truly lived this out.
I'm so very thankful that my God is a God of second chances. "His mercies are new every morning" (Lam. 3 23). Too often I have put outside relationships at the center of my daily efforts. In reality, God will work out those details if and when He sees fit. My efforts are fruitless without Him in the lead. My small mission field is ever before me. Lord, help me keep my eyes on them.
He is my Guide, my Protector, my Shield and Defense, my truest Friend. With Him, I need very little else. As I sat in the glory of beauty all around me and cherished these moments with my most treasured possessions, nothing else mattered. To God be the glory.